Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-05-12
FAMOUS FRAUDS.
An Ex-Governor ofLouisiana Squeals. /.
The Returning Board and How it
Elected a President.

The Returning Board and How it
Elected President.
New YORK, May ga Sun New Or
leans special says: Madison Wells,
formerly Governor of Louisiana, in re-
gard to Tax Collector Badgers connec-
tion with the frauds of the Returning
board of 1876, shows copy of the con-
tract drawn in duplicate and signed by
Badger and himself, in which Badger
agrees to give Wells one-half of all the
moneys realized as commission, as well
as one-half of all the profits made by
purchasing state warrants and paying
them into the treasury as taxes. Badger
further binds himself to run the Office
as cheaply as possible SO as to divide
larger sum between them.
Wells saws that when it became inn
possible to count in Hayes, Kellogg,
who was at that time Governor, tried to
get Wells ousted from his position as
President of the Returning board, and
offered to make him Tax Collector, but
Wells refused to resign. Continuing
his story, Wells says: "In the mean
time, by throwing out of a number of
parishes, Hayes was counted in, Kel-
logg was elected to the United States
Senate and everything looked lovely.
But there was different condition of
| things when the time arrived for the
distribution ofstate appointments. Kel-
logg sent for me, and, after considerable
hemming and having, said he did not
know what to do with Badger, who was
then the incumbent of the Fourth dis
trict tax collectorship, worth $50, 900 a
year, and whom l was to succeed un-
der promise of Kellogg, as made before
the counting in of Hayes for the Presi-
dency. I told him had accepted the
proffer as much to see If he
were sincere as to get the fruits of the
office. | further said to him: "If you
prefer to put carpet-bagger in office
over your promise to me | say to you,
although you are the Governor of this
State, that you shall not do it. l shall
most certainly hold you to your prom
ise." At this time held the office of
| Surveyor of the Port, and after some
consideration made proposition that |
would surrender to Badger the appoint
ment of Tax Collector of the Fourth dis
trict provided Kellogg would draw up
an agreement between Badger and me,
by which | was to receive one-half OF
the profits of the office. These profits
were to cover the purchase of the war
rants, the collection of taxes and any
and all moneys realized from the office
and all perquisites. Kellogg advised
this, and Badger accepted the PROPOSE
ton and signed the agreement"
Afterward, when the Morrison com
mittee began investigating the election
Badger told Wells to destroy the con
tract, as it might get him into trouble
Wells pretended to do so. A few weeks
ago he informed Badger that the con
tract was still in existence, and de
manded settlement, which was re
fused.
II believe" said Wells in conclusion
"that If / had faltered as President o
the Returning board, Tilden would hav,
unquestionably been President of th'
United States.n Wells considers him
self much injured man and threaten
to make the document between hin
and Badger the basis Of suit to recove
100000. Gen. A. S. Badger is nov
chairman of the State Republican com
2 mittee.